• Patrick Saad’s Top Releases of January 2012

  • Beyond The Bridge – The Old Man And The Spirit

Recommended: The Struggle and The Difference Is Human.

“The Old Man And The Spirit” is Beyond The Bridge’s debut, a concept album about “the polarity of human sensuousness and superhuman awareness”. Featuring rich melodies, great musicianship and interesting storytelling, this album’s a great way to start both 2012 and the band’s career.

For fans of: Symphonic Metal, Progressive Metal.

  • Anneke Van Giersbergen – Everything Is Changing

Recommended: Stay and Too Late.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX7qy_7HyQ4

After releasing solo albums under both “Agua De Annique” and “Anneke van Giersbergen and Agua de Annique”, Anneke Van Giersbergen’s newest solo effort “Everything Is Changing” has received quality reviews worldwide by squeezing some fresh-sounding Alternative Rock material. Alongside memorable songs, the album’s up/down tempos are often accompanied by creative synth experimentation and heavy guitar riffs!

For fans of: Agua De Annique and The Gathering.

  • Rami Rouhana’s Top Release of January 2012

  • Sylvan – Sceneries

Recommended: Farewell to Old Friends and The Fountain of Glow.

The above track is just a sample, the tracks are long and consist of several shifts in moods, styles and tempos.

Sylvan simply delivers complex music with well-written lyrics forming an amazing concept double album. One of the best and most underrated bands, their lastest album is the simple proof that great music can still be created following the path of the pioneering bands.

For fans of: Progressive Metal/Rock, Riverside and Symphony X.

  • Karim Koreitem’s Top Release of January 2012 (Contributor)

  • Al Namrood – Kitab Al Awthan

Recommended: Min Trab Al Jahal and Kiram Al Mataia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AfCxowiHws

Al Namrood, hailing from Khobar, Saudi Arabia, have already established themselves as an important outfit of the small Middle Eastern Black Metal scene with their two previous full length efforts Astfhl Al Tha’r (2009) and Estorat Taghoot (2010). They now finally treat us to a third great effort featuring a few extra surprises and where they don’t simply stick to using that same formula that made their previous work a success. Kitab Al Awthan, clocking at around 46 minutes, provides a very interesting representation of Arabian scorching Black Metal in opposition to the coldest of Scandinavian Black Metal.
Al Namrood don’t hesitate to include a variety of Middle Eastern instruments like the Oud, the African Tablah (darbuka), and most interestingly Kanun melodies which all contribute to this brilliant story telling of an album, singing the mythologies and ancient history of the Arabic world.

For fans of: Oriental Black Metal, Narjahanam and older Darkthrone.